12/8/2017 Deep Ellum Brewing, 2823 St. Louis Street, Dallas, TX 75226 phone: 214-888-3322   website: DeepEllumBrewing.com
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11AM to 10PM | Friday 11AM - 12AM | Saturday 12PM to 12AM | Sunday 11AM to 7PM

Experience before you go . . .

Okay the plan is in place. Brother Larry and I got up a little slow! I'm thinking old age is kicking in. But of course the night before we toured Grapevine Craft Beer, then drank wine and grilled steaks and ended the night sipping Makers Mark and listening to old guys country....Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. I get a text, brother in law Guy is two hours out....driving up from Beaumont to join in on the fun. As I walk into the kitchen there's nephew Zac. He drove up from Fort Hood where he's a Major in the Army and the family is so very proud of him. What a treat for him and us to have him tag along.

Before we know it we're getting a ride from Larrys' wife Connie to our first stop......Deep Ellum Brewing! As always, a couple wrong turns, comments from the third row of seats, "It's got to be down this street", and a "I think I see it", and finally a "Bout time we made it"! Deep Ellum is a little like Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco or 4th Avenue in Tucson. An eclectic entertainment district with vibrant street murals, quirky art galleries, unique little eateries and a weekend pull for young urban professionals looking for something different but you know what, you can always count on a very diverse crowd. And right there in the thick of it is Deep Ellum Brewery.

The four of us climb out of the SUV, give Connie a good bye hug, a couple "Be safe", "Don't do anything stupid" and as Connie drove away, there was a sense of excitement in the air of what do we do now, WOW we're really doing this and I really wonder how this is going to work out! Had a feel like the first day of summer camp, which was actually pretty cool since it's been 45 years since I was in summer camp. The year was 1972 and my buddy Randy and I just got dropped off at the Birch Knoll Milwaukee Bucks Basketball Camp in Eagle River, Wisconsin...Beatles haircuts, pimples and some of that same excitement, just a lot more of it. I love these guys, I gather them up for the front sign selfie and we race to the door...."Did someone say beer"!!

Once inside the place is packed! It's a Friday afternoon at 2:00 and the bar to the right is full, tables and chairs straight ahead are full and in the center of the room are a few high tops and lo and behold one was empty and bing, bang boom....the Hoppin Brewery Tour strikes again! We peruse the beer board and the table menu, Larry starts out with the Dream Crusher - Double Rye IPA (9.5%, 100+ IBU) hops, hops and more hops....well balanced with a hearty malt backbone. Zac being a IPA guy orders up the Deep Ellum White IPA (7.8%, 85 IBU) American IPA with touches of mango, papaya and pineapple. Guy being kind of a Local Legend on his own went with the Local Legend Sweet Stout (5.3%, 23 IBU) and I got the Easy Peasy IPA - Session India Pale Ale (5.2%, 40 IBU) summer time when the living is easy IPA, tangerine and lemon peel and Pacific NW aroma hops. Enjoying my Easy Peasy I look up and a count four empty bar stools smiling at us so we make our move and end up where the Hoppin Brewery Tour loves to be...snuggled at the bar talking to all comers.

There's a line of people coming through the door, come to find out it's a company holiday party making four brewery stops and Deep Ellum is their first. All with anticipation in their eyes and 16 count sample card in their hands....tis the season!! To my right we have a couple millennials, brother and sister, Milo and Sacha, full of life, having a beer and catching up.

Next stop conversation starts up between the four of us. Of course some samples and another beer to aid in this crucial decision is required. When in Dallas, you've got to have a Dallas Blonde - American Blonde Ale (5.2%, 23 IBU), and a Neato Bandito - Mexican Style Lager (6%, 18 IBU). Larry did some pre tour work and had a map with some worthy contenders but a quick click on my AroundMe app and boom Four Corners Brewing Company is 1 1/2 miles away. It's a beautiful sunny day for a walk so we say our good byes to all the Deep Ellum peeps. A couple "Have fun", "Be safe" and a "Party on" and we're on our way.

Once outside and blinded by the sun we choose a left over a right and head down Malcolm X Boulevard.....this is going to be a day to remember!!

Until next time and remember.........

Go get'cha one!!